While out last night, Melodie mentioned that on the night before our results are released, we should just go out and distract ourselves utterly. I agree wholeheartedly, for if I stay at home I will only play out in my mind the best and worst case scenarios, and how I might have changed something or other during the 3 weeks of exams that I sat for. It's out of my hands now, and I'm ever thankful for that.
Even as we entered the hall to take our paper, there was palpable anticipation at the prospect of it all ending in 2 hours. Normally I go through the routine of placing my examination implements at various positions on and under my desk and whisper a calming prayer. This time, however, I just sat there for a moment with a strangely tranquil smile, thinking about how far I've come in this, and whispered a completely different sort of prayer.
When it ended, it was as good as I had envisioned it to be. A good paper to end what most of us felt was a block of exams which we could negotiate well enough. High fives and handshakes, promises to make plans to go out, and I was off to lunch.
Though Gerald was on the bus with us to town, the 6 of us who ended up at the Indonesian Ayam Penyet joint in Lucky Plaza were myself, Patrick, Patrick, Lex, Mong and Elliot. A trip to the tailor who has made a sizable proportion of my classmates' suits for prom later, we left and met again in the evening at Angelshare, Dempsey Hill. I arrived later, and was told by the waiter that my 10 classmates who were there (Gen Huong, Melodie, Nicholas, Elliot, Cheryl, Patrick, Lex, Chun Wui, Mong, Darren) had jumped for the free flow, 40+perpax, and so I thought, why not? I have a feeling that this September-November offer which some of them had tried during our last trip there after the Prelims was the sole reason we visited again instead of going somewhere else. There was another group of our schoolmates there, including Sam, though they left fairly early, after which Patrick joined my class.
With little doubt, I think we're the class that spends most of our time in watering holes. Last night was no different, but as a whole, we drank more than we've ever. Probably to the house's dismay, the collective 518.10 we spent was in all likelihood a mere fraction of the actual value of the stuff we ordered, going by the regular menu prices. It was the quickest and most effective way to forget all the stuff that we studied and is now, for all intents and purposes, irrelevant.
It was a congratulatory time, and we left knowing that we had all shared in the same experience. To Mong's place, then back to the northeast with Patrick and Cheryl.
Still recovering slightly from last night, I awoke early this morning to meet Ronald, Yew Jin, Daniel and Justin to get the necessary groceries for our trip tomorrow. My estimated budget was over by less than 20, and we then had lunch at Han's before dividing the stuff to bring tomorrow. 4 days should be enough to really immerse myself in the revelry of both the season, and this altogether different season of my life.
